Jack Prelutsky was born September 8, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. Prelutsky has been writing poetry for over 30 years. He has won several awards for his writing including the U.S. Children's Poet Laureate in 2006 and the Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award in 2007. Prelutsky has also made an appearance on the children's television show, Arthur. When he was younger he disliked poetry very much because of one of his teachers. He even said "they left me with the impression that poetry was the literary equivalent of liver. I was told it was good for me, but I wasn't convinced." Later in life when Prelutsky was in his early twenties he took six months to draw imaginary animals using ink and watercolors. He then decided to write twenty four short poems to go with each picture. A friend saw his poems and encouraged Prelutsky to take them to an editor. The editors loved his poems and he has been writing ever since. Prelutsky currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Carolynn.
Jack Prelutsky
By: Mason J.1940 - still living
Jack Prelutsky was born September 8, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. Prelutsky has been writing poetry for over 30 years. He has won several awards for his writing including the U.S. Children's Poet Laureate in 2006 and the Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award in 2007. Prelutsky has also made an appearance on the children's television show, Arthur. When he was younger he disliked poetry very much because of one of his teachers. He even said "they left me with the impression that poetry was the literary equivalent of liver. I was told it was good for me, but I wasn't convinced." Later in life when Prelutsky was in his early twenties he took six months to draw imaginary animals using ink and watercolors. He then decided to write twenty four short poems to go with each picture. A friend saw his poems and encouraged Prelutsky to take them to an editor. The editors loved his poems and he has been writing ever since. Prelutsky currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Carolynn.
A Pizza the Size of the Sun
I'm making a pizza the size of the sun,
a pizza that's sure to weigh more than a ton,
a pizza too massive to pick up and toss,
a pizza resplendent with oceans of sauce.
I'm topping my pizza with mountains of cheese,
with acres of peppers, pimentos and peas,
with mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausage galore,
with every last olive they had at the store.
My pizza is sure to be one of a kind,
my pizza will leave the other behind,
my pizza will be a delectable treat
that all who love pizza are welcome to eat.
The oven is hot, I believe it will take
a year and a half for my pizza to bake.
I hardly can wait till my pizza is done,
my wonderful pizza the size of the sun.
My Elephant is Different
My elephant is different
than most elephants I meet,
its ears are short and fuzzy,
it has feathers on its feet.
It's scaly like a lizard,
and it's furry like a skunk,
it sports a sort of auger
where there ought to be a trunk
It doesn't much resemble
other elephants I find,
its tail is like a mushroom
on its tiny blue behind.
It cackles like a chicken,
and it's fourteen inches tall-
at times I think my elephant's
no elephant at all.
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